Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Category Four Hurricane Rita continues to move toward landfall along the northwest Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations continue across Texas and Louisiana coastal areas. Lake Charles LA is providing evacuations by bus for residents who have no transportation.

Traffic gridlock in the greater Houston area was compounded by gasoline stations without fuel, long lines at those stations still carrying fuel, and record breaking temperatures on the first day of autumn.

Offshore drilling platforms and rigs, as well as oil refineries, petrochemical and natural gas plants are in the path of the storm. Wave heights recorded by buoy have exceeded 38 feet. The refineries threatened by Hurricane Rita are on higher ground than those affected by flooding from Katrina. As a result, speculation abounds regarding future prices for winter heating fuel and gasoline.

The following links are self-updating:

Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 6A, 11A, 6P, 11P
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track

Rita Forecast Track Archive
Forecast Models
Buoy Data Western Gulf of Mexico
Houston/Galveston/Beaumont/Lake Charles Wx Watches/Warnings
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Louisiana
Hi Res Houston Flood Zone Map Slow load, great detail

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
GOM WV Loop
GOM IR Still Image
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

KPRC-TV/DT Houston - KPRC-TV/DT Houston - http://mfile.akamai.com/12944/live/reflector:38616.asx
KPLC-TV Lake Charles KPLC Streaming
KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA

Additional Resources:

FReeper Sign In Thread Check in to let us know whether you are staying, going, and when you get there
FReepers Offering Lodging To Rita Evacuees People and/or Pet Friendly FReepers Offering Shelter
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
Beaumont TX evac Routes
Lake Charles/Southwest LA Evacuation Map
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
KPLC Lake Charles Evac Routes, news
KFDM Beaumont/Port Arthur News, evac info
Hurricane City
Wxnation Houston
Galveston Webcams
Golden Triangle Weather Page Provides Galveston Weather, Warnings, Radar, etc.

Category	Wind Speed	Barometric Pressure	Storm Surge	Damage Potential
Tropical Depression	< 39 mph < 34 kts			Minimal
Tropical Storm	39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts			Minimal
Hurricane 1 (Weak)	74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts	28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more	4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m	Minimal damage to vegetation
Hurricane 2 (Moderate)	96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts	28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb	6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m	Moderate damage to houses
Hurricane 3 (Strong)	111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts	27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb	9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m	Extensive damage to small buildings
Hurricane 4 (Very strong)	131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts	27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb	13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m	Extreme structural damage
Hurricane 5 (Devastating)	Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts	Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb	Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m	Catastrophic building failures possible

Previous Threads:
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part IV
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[NautiNurse]

Are you hunkered down, and ready for a long weekend?

[wolfhound89]

If that's true, that would put that at least over Longview, which is where I live. Geez, looks like an interesting weekend up here to say the least!

[eastforker]

I was out and about here in Houston today picking up my generator, talk about crazy!!! Good thing I had a key map to navigate back home on the back roads, crazy!

[abigkahuna]

Thanks for the info--passed along a msg. Unfortunately the East Texas Fair plans on opening Saturday AM. He has bug out lans, fully fueled and stocked with water and goodies. Luckily he has a concession trailer, not a stick booth on the grounds so it will be easier to move. Will try calling again in the am...thanks all

us show folks gotta stick together.

[GOPyouth]

I've been wondering just how high Cedar Creek Lake can get. It's about 100 yards from my front door now

A buddy I work with lives on that lake. Great place to visit. The lakes here need the water badly. I went out on Lake Palestine last weekend for some catfishing. The lake was quite low. That should be taken care of after a week of rain.

[Lemondropkid31]

Not yet. I am going to work tomorrow. I am nost sure when. I thought I would leave around 3, but it sounds like I need to leave sooner.

[Colorado Doug]

Give us a while to think about it. I'm pretty sure we could move them, but we need to figure out where we'd put them first. :-D

If you bought two ranges, you could put one out there, just east of Galveston. Shall I wrap them up for you?

Dang, I should go into sales!

[Spktyr]

Failure to stop and render aid is punishable by a term of up to 5 years in a state jail facility and a $100,000 (IIRC) fine.

I hope she does too. She'll wish she hadn't.

[CobaltBlue]

Best of luck to you, then.

If you can't get out, a multi story brick office building as far away from water as you can get is probably your best bet.

Old style brick, if you have that type of construction there.

Some houses with post-and-beam construction and hurricane clips are sound, but it may be too late to figure out if you have hurricane clips.

[bd476]

Oh, you wanted lots of movement. I was looking for a loop which showed the curve of the earth and the hurricane all in one.

Okay here's one which moves but the infrared image is hours old.

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real-time/visir/atlantic/visirjava3.html

[not_apathetic_anymore]

thanks

[NautiNurse]

I am going to work tomorrow.

Hmmmm...

[GOPyouth]

The fair is going to be a mess this weekend. I haven't heard if they will postpone setting the rides up. I suppose they will with the possibility of strong winds.

Some FFA people were in the restaurant (Willy's) tonight from Texarkana. They were trying their best to show first thing saturday and get out of dodge.

[eastforker]

Failure to stop and render aid is only aplicable if you are involved in an accident.

[PAR35]

Houston. It's the most liberal city in Texas.

El Paso is more solidly democrat. The Valley is as well.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Gotta go to bed.....here's some comparisons of the progress today. I posted the first two earlier.


10:00 a.m.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805W5_sm2+gif/145647W_sm.gif

4:00 p.m.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805W_sm2+gif/204537W_sm.gif

10:00 p.m.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805W_sm2+gif/031210W_sm.gif


Stay safe everyone...

[Lemondropkid31]

No luck for me. I do security work at a plant that has all glass windows in the front. I hope they dont all blow out!!!

[CobaltBlue]

I don't know Texas, but 35 miles north of Houston looks on the map like a pretty safe bet to me.

Past my bed time. Good luck!

[Spktyr]

290 is clear in all Houston trafficams. Those who want to bail out should use that route and get out NOW.

I'm heading for bed. I have more preparations to make in the morning, since Troy Dungan says that I won't see a drop of rain.

[Lemondropkid31]

I am a security guard, so unless I want to look very bad and possibly loose my job, I HAVE to go in. the good thing is I am staying there over the weekend, so I do not have to drive in this. I don't check in until midnight friday, but I am leaving at the latest by 2 or 3. I may leave sooner.